Some passing thoughts on the rail service in and through Rochester:
A tunnel for trains and/or auto traffic is a nice idea, but not for Rochester. Rochester is located on top of and surrounded by limestone, an incredibly brittle and porous rock that cannot hold back water seepage. Tunnels are fine if it involves going through granite (mountains), however nearly all of Rochester is located on flat, low marshy ground. Numerous rivers, creeks and springs pour through the city. The area is a flood plain. A tunnel surrounded by porous rock in low, marsh bottoms will quickly be useless.
The federal government granted the lands used by all railroads as a national interest (eminent domain). The fight against DM&E; is a federal matter, not city or county. What the government created approximately 150 years ago is not easily reversed. Years of legal contracts and precedence are not going to be overturned locally. Rochester's forefounders fought to get the railroad here and we built around it.
The Rochester City Council could have "sued for peace" long ago. I'm sure the city could have negotiated with DM&E; for gated emergency-vehicle-only viaducts at strategic places to ensure non-delay response to crisis. Or, possibly, haggled a per-hopper fee to help relieve our local tax and build our own solution.
Keith; Northway
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Rochester;
